2025 Guitar Certificate adjudications will take place on Sunday, May 4, 2025 from 9-1 at UMBC.
The BCGS Guitar Certificate program is designed to cultivate and promote classical guitar education throughout the state of Maryland and neighboring states. Students and performers of all ages and levels of ability can participate. Participants will be evaluated on a set of graded requirements, ranging from levels 1-15. Participants can also choose to audition for jury comments only, i.e. not to audition for a specific certificate level. Upon successful completion, students will receive written feedback from professional educators, as well as a certificate for their participation.
Auditions are LIVE, but those who prefer to audition by video, can do so.
Please review: Guidelines for Performers / Letter to Teachers / Performance Assessment Rubric
If you are a parent registering more than one child: All performers need to be members individually. That means that you need to get membership for each performer.
Performance Requirements:
-Two prepared pieces. Click on this link “Repertoire List” for a list of pieces and their corresponding levels. These pieces are suggestions only; you are welcome to perform any pieces that you like, but you need to contact us beforehand to clarify within which level your pieces will fall.
-Scales, here is a list of scales.
Examination Levels:
Levels 1-15 or jury comments only.
Performance Assessment Rubric:
Here is a Performance Assessment Rubric to help you or your students prepare for the performance. Please review it with your teacher.
Registration:
Registration fee is $35 and is non-refundable. In addition, each performer is required to be a BCGS member to be evaluated by our expert jury. We offer different levels of membership. We will be using an online registration form again for the 2025 Guitar Certificate.
Free Parking:
Parking at UMBC couldn’t be easier, it is right across from the entrance to the Center for the Arts, in lot 8. Just a few steps away. Enter the Arts and Humanities Building (where Linehan Concert Hall is) and go downstairs and turn right. The stairs are right in front of you. You will be met by a BCGS person who will guide you.
Anything else?
Contact us HERE.
Looking for a place for brunch / lunch after the auditions?
Check out these restaurants who are only a few minutes away from UMBC.
829 Frederick Rd., Catonsville, MD. 21228 410-788-0005
Ships Cafe Restaurant and Crab House
828 Frederick Rd., Catonsville, MD 21228 (410) 744-1838
712 Fredrick Rd. Catonsville, MD 21228 (410) 788-7878

Please follow these steps:
1. Pay membership if needed
2. Pay registration
3. Fill out application
BCGS Certificate performers receive a positive, written, feedback from the jurors, as well as a certificate for participation.
JURORS:
Franco Platino, Faculty
Peabody Conservatory and Peabody Preparatory of the Johns Hopkins University

Andres Felipe Palacios
BCGS Artist-in-Residence
